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Inmates, officers indicted in bribery sex scheme

Dozens of inmates and correctional officers face charges on allegations of bribery in which inmates used sex to gain influence over officers.

Taxpayers pay the state to run Baltimore City's jails, but a federal indictment issued Tuesday reveals the extent to which the bad guys were in control. State officials insist the indictment is proof positive they haven't been sitting on their hands, saying they are the ones who asked the feds for help rooting out the trouble. The case has caused quite a shock, even making national news.

A federal grand jury indicted 25 people -- including 13 state correctional officers -- on accusations that they conspired to run operations of the Black Guerilla Family gang inside correctional facilities.

"Correctional officers were in bed with BGF inmates, in violation of the first principle of prison management," said U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein. "Preventing prison corruption requires intensive screening at prison entrances and punishment for employees who consort with inmates or bring cellphones and drugs into correctional facilities."

According to the federal affidavit in the case, an inmate told investigators that "60 to 70 percent of the corrections officers at BCDC are involved in contraband smuggling and/or having sexual relationships with inmates."

The affidavit also said, "There are looser procedures followed for employees entering the detention facilities in Baltimore City as opposed to corrections facilities throughout the rest of Maryland."

The indictment alleges BGF members and associates bribed correctional officers at the Baltimore City Detention Center to smuggle drugs, cellphones and other contraband. Investigators said they were able to do so by avoiding screenings.

Prosecutors said the BGF leaders used the cellphones to order contraband that was delivered via the corrupt correctional officers who smuggled them into the prisons and arranged payment for the contraband.

The indictment indicates BGF members and associates were following directions from White, who was in jail awaiting trial on attempted murder charges. Prosecutors on Tuesday released a transcript of a wiretapped phone call by White on Jan. 5.

"This is my jail. You understand that? I'm dead serious ... I make every final call in this jail ... and nothing go past me, everything come to me ... Any of my brothers that deal with anybody, it's gonna come to me. You see what I am saying? Everything come to me. Everything. Before a (expletive) hit a (expletive) in the mouth, guess what they do? They gotta run it through me. I tell them whether it's a go ahead, and they can do it or whether they hold back. Before a (expletive) stab somebody, they gotta run it through me ... Anything that get done must go through me."

White also claimed to make a nice profit.

"My profit was $15,800 and something ... or $16,800, $16,400-something. That ain't bad for a whole month."

The indictment states White used cellphones to discuss BGF activities while inside the prison. He and other gang members developed sexual relationships with officers to gain influence over them, the indictment states.

According to the indictment, White allegedly had a sexual relationship with four correctional officers -- Jennifer Owens, Katera Stevenson, Chania Brooks and Tiffany Linder -- impregnating all of them at least once. Owens and Stevenson got "Tavon" tattoos, the indictment states.

On Oct. 24, 2012, Owens is heard saying, "I understand you stressed out cuz you locked up, OK? But I am, too. You locked up and I'm (expletive) pregnant again. Who the (expletive) does that?"

Prosecutors said White allegedly gave Owens a diamond ring, and he gave luxury cars to Owens, Stevenson and Brooks using Green Dot cash debit cards smuggled in.

Among one of the overt acts listed in the indictment, Jones is accused of standing guard outside a closet at the prison so that Dennis and inmate Derius Duncan could have sex. The officers are also accused of alerting inmates to law enforcement operations, including K-9 scans.

According to the indictment, White allegedly said on Jan. 6: "I just got a message (from Officer Tiffany Linder) saying that they was going to pull a shakedown (prison search) tonight. Let me call all these dudes in my phone and let them know."

On Jan. 18, 2012, Braswell is heard saying, "See what I be doing is buying them (prescription pills) and I be taking them to work, and they worth three times the price in there ... So, I take them in there every day myself. Get the money myself. You feel me?"

On Oct. 15, 2012, Dennis is heard saying, "... there are some things I need to get done ... My goal for this week is 2,000 (dollars). I don't know where it is going to come from but I am going to make it happen."

Officers can be fired for associating with inmates, but the women in this case are suspended and still employed. A prison system spokesman said no new procedures for security or screening of what goes inside the jails are being implemented. While 54 prison system employees have been fired for smuggling contraband or fraternizing with inmates since 2010, none have been the administrators who run the city facilities.

The WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team tried on Wednesday to reach the female corrections officers. Instead, the I-Team was met by someone who wouldn't open the door at one home.

In Anne Arundel County, family members told the I-Team that Linder -- now eight months pregnant -- wasn't around.

Each person faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the racketeering and drug conspiracy charges, as well as for conspiracy to commit money laundering. Stevenson, Yarborough and Pinder each also face five years in prison for possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

According to the indictment, BGF has been the dominant gang at the Baltimore City Detention Center and in several connected facilities, especially the Baltimore Central Booking Intake Center, the Women's Detention Center, which houses many men, and in the Jail Industries Building.

In April 2009, Baltimore City police broke up an unusual meeting in Druid Hill Park of the violent drug gang known as the Black Guerilla Family -- bold of them to meet so publicly, but brazen behavior is part of the gang's DNA.

The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services released a statement Tuesday, saying it has focused its efforts on identifying and reducing gang activity in prisons. The department said the indictments are a result of the department partnering with its federal counterparts in 2011. The department also released a fact sheet it produced regarding safety at the city detention center.

Among the new actions under way, the department is testing in Baltimore City electronic detection equipment to find cellphones.

"We need to rely on people who are in law enforcement and the people associated with law enforcement to make sure they are on our side and not the criminals' side, and I think that's the most significant thing this case exposes," Rosenstein said.

State Public Safety Secretary Gary Maynard said he takes full responsibility for what this case uncovered and that he struggles to spell out significant changes. He called the case an embarrassment.

The governor's office said Wednesday it has full confidence in the public safety secretary.

All 25 people accused in the indictment are also charged with drug violations, and 20 of them are charged with money laundering conspiracy.

About 170 agents and officers executed 15 search warrants in the case.

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